A mother whose two sons were both caught up in the horror of the war in Afghanistan is stirring up support for an event she is organising in aid of Help for Heroes.

Sally Amoore of Llanddewi Velfrey has raised thousands of pounds for the forces rehabilitation charity since 2009, when her younger son Jamie, now 28, was horrifically injured in Helmand province.

A platoon commander with 2nd Battalion The Rifles, he was blown 30 feet into the air after stepping on a Taliban mine and spent four months in hospital, undergoing 15 operations.

By an incredible coincidence, his elder brother Miles, now 30, was also in Afghanistan - in his capacity as a war correspondent for the Sunday Times. His moving ‘Blood Brothers’ article on his fears for Jamie’s life and his subsequent battle for recovery won him a Young Journalist of the Year award.

Sally is now holding a Colossal Cake Sale for Help for Heroes on Narberth’s Townsmoor car park on April 27th. A previous sale organised by Sally when she was living in Windsor - before moving to her former family home in Pembrokeshire with her husband Robin last year - raised £15,000.

With Jamie now back in the Army, but with the prospect of more operations ahead of him, she has pledged to do all she can to support Help for Heroes.

She said this week: "When I first saw my son lying in a coma, swollen, bloody and and lost in bandages on his hospital bed, I never believed that I’d see him walk again or return to some kind of normal life. And yet he did. For many others the return to duty or civilian life is even harder. They have no legs or arms.

"Without charities like Help for Heroes, these brave men who we ask so much of would never get the level of support they deserve and so badly need. It is critical that, as public attention dwindles and shifts its focus away from Afghanistan, we maintain this support for years and years to come."

Miles has also spoken of his admiration for the practical help provided by Help for Heroes, which has raised over £156m to date.

He said: “I will always owe them, and everyone who supports them, a tremendous debt; they helped return my brother to me.”

 

Cake sale

 

*The Colossal Cake Sale takes place on the Townsmoor car park, Narberth on Saturday April 27th between 9.30am and 5pm will also feature entertainment throughout the day and Help for Heroes merchandise on sale. Donations of cakes, biscuits, muffins and preserves and other baked goods are being sought. For more information, and to pledge a baked donation, contact Sally Amoore on sfamoore@aol.com /01834 860587/07775 764747 or Carol Peett on westwales@county-homesearch.com/ 01834 860338/077966332.